Currently

Hello friends!

Has anyone else out there felt like they've been in a whirlwind the last two months, or was it just me?

Between several out-of-state trips, camping, canning, a family wedding and harvest,

I feel like my projects have all been buried under a pile of chaos and memories.

But it's time to resurrect them! (the projects, I mean)

I find that my soul needs space to create and just be.

Can I get an amen?

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to post about some of my current favorite things.

Current reads:

This book by Ruth Chou Simons is beautiful, both visually and spiritually. Her paintings

are lovely, and her testimony of how to choose grace in the everyday

is so encouraging to me.

You can order the book here. 

Current Project:

After purchasing a dresser on Facebook Marketplace (who else is addicted to shopping on here?!)

I decided it's time for me to learn the art of chalk paint.

I'm just a little nervous about this, but it's supposed to be fool-proof. Ahem.

All I can say is, I'll be calling all of you who persuaded me to try this if it's not! 😉

I'm just hoping that I can make it look better in real life

 than it does in my head right now!

Current cravings:

Velvety Chai Tea

I crave this tea, and I love that it has so many health benefits as well!

I make mine with some variations, using MCT oil instead of coconut oil and I skip the butter.

This is also good when you add a bag of oolong tea along with the vanilla chai!

Current Struggle:

Can someone tell me how many tubs of children's clothing I should have in my attic?

Because I'm fairly certain I've exceeded the limit!

Also, how did I end up with 8 pairs of winter pajamas for Nicholas?!

The struggle is real, you guys.

Currently noticing:

The big and small ways that God has been answering my specific prayer to see His heart of love for me. I long to be rooted in His love, because everything else flows from this foundation.

So I simply asked Him to open my eyes so I could truly experience

this love in a deeper way.

It's been incredible to see that prayer being answered!

Currently listening to:

This podcast by Risen Motherhood is so relevant, inspiring and challenging to me.

I only recently jumped on the bandwagon, and found out how much I love a good podcast!

I would love to hear what your favorites are!

Currently loving:

The watercolor markers I bought on Jane.com for myself as a birthday present!

(Please tell me you do this, too!)

I have more control with this marker style than I do with a paintbrush,

but it functions just like a watercolor should.

I kind of feel like a kid with a new coloring book!



Current Dreams

Travel.
A day or two away with my husband, since I've only seen him
for short periods of time the last few weeks.
Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll read this and plan something! ha
A day away with girlfriends, with no responsibilities, uninterrupted time to talk,
and lots of good food. (A good time always involves good food. Am I right?)
A girl can dream!

Current Inspiration:

Seeing the light in my child's eyes when they discover something new,

or master a difficult concept.

Homeschooling was never in my plans,

but one thing I have learned is that God often changes our plans!

I find it fulfilling to teach my children, 

but it also makes me so much more aware of my inadequacies.

I'm glad we just get one day at a time!

And that's my list, for the moment!

Goodness knows it will probably change in a week 😊

What is inspiring you today?

10 Things I Learned in May

1. No matter how many "free" hours you think you have in a day's time, they always fill up. Always.

2. Prune all the bushes. It's an instant facelift for your house! (Thanks Dad and Fredi for the tip!)

3. Underbaked cheesecake is a disappointment. But when you spend precious time making it for yourself for Mother's Day, you eat it anyway! 

 

4. Spontaneous work trips with the husband in the middle of a busy spring are a gift.

5. If you haven't tried something new, your sister will make you do it!

 6. Dreams do come true! Ten years later, my hammock from Guatemala has a home in my backyard!

7. You can't help but smile when you watch tiny ballerinas twirl on stage!

8. If you forget to bring flowers to your daughter's dance recital, you may need to dash to Walmart 20 minutes before she steps onstage, and spend $15 on the last decent bouquet they have. But when she asks to put them in her room because they are hers, you know it was worth it.

9. Potty training is like running a marathon: halfway through, you decide that quitting is probably better than dying. But we haven't quit and we haven't died, so I guess that means we're making some progress!

10. The smallest things can bring the most joy to a child. And she doesn't need to know that she's actually being trained to take over my job!

And now, enjoy some random pictures from my phone!

What I Learned in December

I thought it would be fun to do one more "what I learned" blog post from 2015!


1. My daughter loved making chocolates almost as much as I loved eating them!

2. The joy of watching your child do something they love can make your heart hurt...in a good way!

3. Weddings are so beautiful, especially when the couple happens to be some of your best friends!

4. Christmas carols sung by candelight are my favorite.

5. The Pop up Park in Lancaster is just as charming as it looks. I could have stayed for hours!

6. My children have some of the most talented grandparents ever! Grandma Shenk made Hadassah an

apron and matching hot mats to use in the kitchen, and Mumsie Showalter made Hadassah an outfit

that matched her doll's outfit! Grandpa Shenk built Nicholas a fence and hay bales to go with the barn he made him last year. Like I said, most talented ever!

7. Christmas Day in Virginia can actually reach temperatures in the 70's! And we celebrated with a picnic outside! (sorry no pictures #whatwasithinking)

8. I may be a little jealous of my sister's green thumb. 

9.  When I packed for our trip to PA, I discovered that I have a lot of burgundy in my closet. #obviously

10. Matching dresses for little girls is always a great idea. 

                                        

What did you learn in December?

What I Learned in August

1. Shooting skeet may be my new favorite sport. 

2. Getting to drive by a castle that you cannot actually explore may be a new form of torture. Seriously, people, have a heart!

3. Tomatoes are so pretty when they're in a bowl, but after you spend 2 whole days making sauce and salsa and juice, they just look like WORK.

4. There is something about a live concert that makes me feel alive; especially when I persuade my sister and bestie to join me in front of the stage! (You're welcome guys.)

5. The messier it is, the more fun they have! Can someone explain that to me?

6. It pays to make that phone call! You just may end up with an executive suite and a king size bed, instead of a standard room with double beds.

7. Babysitting a cuddly nephew is a new form of recreation around here.

8. Ginger Gold apples make a perfect sauce, thick enough to please my man and sweet enough to eat without sugar. One more first world problem solved! 

 9. Basically nothing beats quality time with my man.

10. Every girl needs besties that spoil her, and enough belly laughs in one evening to give your abs a work out!

What did you learn in August?

10 Things I Learned in March

1. Housecleaning is one of the jobs I dread the most, but I also get the most satisfaction from. This year, it seemed to take so.much.longer. than I remembered! Are we done yet?!

 2. Winter eventually loses the battle. Hallelujah!

3. After several days with sick children, I developed a whole new level of appreciation for the Curious George show. Anything I can enjoy watching along with my kids gets my approval!

4. The creation of photo books can become an addiction, especially when you have entire years of photos that haven't been printed yet! But I'm making progress, and that's what counts, right?

5. Short people have a hard time running as fast as tall people. At least, that's my excuse!

6.I am a work in progress; He isn't finished with me yet!

7. My kiddos are my entertainment. They say some of the funniest things, and I can't help myself: I just laugh uncontrollably! Does that make me a bad mom?

8. Life has no guarantees. Recently, a mama only two years older than me passed away suddenly, leaving 4 little children behind. I have today, and that is all I am promised.

9. Sometimes - even though it pains me to admit it - husbands are right. Like the business conference he suggested we attend, which was absolutely life-changing! (And yes, I told him he was right.) 

10. The statement "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" doesn't apply to homemade cheesecake.